The Easter getaway has begun

The Great Easter Getaway is well underway with more people expected to jet out of Bristol Airport for the bank holiday weekend. And the region's roads are expected to be busy again so don't forget to take extra time for your journeys.

Travels experts are warning that the West is expected to have the busiest roads in the country as people head to the region for the Easter break.

Travels experts are warning that the West is expected to have the busiest roads in the country as people head to the region for the Easter break.

• According to the AA, 16 million cars are expected to head off on trips across the country this weekend

• The main hotspots are expected to be on the M5 at the Almondsbury interchange and the A303 through Wiltshire & Somerset

• Bristol Airport is expecting 70,000 passengers to pass through this weekend

The great Easter getaway will mean busy roads, especially on the region's motorways.

There have already been long delays on the M5 in Somerset after a car fire closed the motorway in both directions.

Edmund King, President of the AA, tells us what we can expect:

Police have extended the closure points of the M5 in Somerset.

Both carriageways are now closed between J23 A39 (Bridgwater North) and J26 A38 (Wellington).

There are long delays in both directions. Avoid if you can.

The M5 is currently closed in both directions due to a vehicle fire between J24 A38 (Bridgwater South) and J25 A358 (Taunton).

More than 70,000 passengers are expected through Bristol Airport this bank holiday weekend. An Airport spokesman says numbers are on the increase since it added new destinations including Bologna and Shannon.

Meanwhile the great Easter getaway will mean busy roads, especially on the region's motorways. The road and rail networks are likely to be extremely busy too so do make extra time for your journeys.